Pletcher's Breeders' Cup Hopefuls Work

Yesterday, trainer Todd Pletcher and Ed Stanco of King of Prussia Stable confirmed Princess of Sylmar
for this year's Distaff after the 3-year-old breezed four furlongs on
Belmont's training track in 48.86 seconds. The 2013 Breeders' Cup will
be held November 1 and 2 at Santa Anita Park.

"She
breezed very well, as we've become accustomed to," said Pletcher. "She
came out of it in good order, so all systems are 'go.'"

Princess
of Sylmar has won four straight Grade 1 races: the Kentucky Oaks, the
TVG Coaching Club American Oaks, the Alabama, and the Beldame
Invitational.

"She
kept doing so well and running so well," said Pletcher of the decision
to send Princess of Sylmar to the Breeders' Cup. "She was able to win
the Beldame. I think one of Ed's concerns early in the year was running
her as a 3-year-old against older mares in California. When she beat
Royal Delta, I think that eased some of his concerns."

"Havana
was very straightforward with an excellent gallop out," said Pletcher.
"I was pleased with what we saw. Palace Malice was his standard,
very-good self. He seems to be maintaining his form. Graydar also was
good and galloped out well, so he's had two of the three breezes we were
looking for to go to the Classic."

Pletcher
added that his horses who are competing in the Friday Breeders' Cup
races will fly to California on October 28 and his Saturday horses will
depart on October 29.

The trainer also expressed satisfaction with Notacatbutallama's third-place
finish in Saturday's Mohawk for New York-bred turf horses. The Mohawk
was the first start against older horses for the 3-year-old owned by
Mike Repole.

"He
was unfortunate to miss the break," said Pletcher. "Our goal was to
come away in a stalking position. Unfortunately, he came away last. He
tried to save some ground and encountered some traffic, and I thought he
did extremely well to get up for third."